Month / December 2020

by princesshotflash

What to do with small scraps of fabric?

I have three bags of scraps from my cousin’s mask-making business. From medium-sized pieces to very tiny ones, I told him to give all to me. My first idea was to spin them into fabric twine or yarn, but my spinning skills need work. Still not to the point that I get enjoying it.

Bag 1 of 3 scraps of fabric from mask-making

During the Christmas weekend, I watched handmade craft videos and happened upon DinLife . DinLife is a video from Japan. No one speaks, just background music. It’s very peaceful and calming watching her do her craft. Her stitching is so consistent and she makes these beautiful pieces out of scraps of fabric.

I decided to try my hand at making a doll. I used one of the large pieces of scraps from a Hot Wheels mask and started with the head. As this was the first attempt, I decided to go with the flow and see how it turned out before committing to a pattern and directions.

I turned a doll’s head into a dog’s head with that technique by adding a muzzle and ears. It reminded me of a German Shepard. I don’t know why I did the muzzle area and ears. It just happened, a happy accident.

bodyless

This happy accident turned into a Christmas day project I finished up on Boxing day. Mom and Dad thought it was funny and cute. Now “Hot Wheels” the dog sits on the dining room table to keep them company.

Orange found a friend

I think he’s more Poi Dog than German Shepard. Poi Dog is Mutt in Hawaii slang. His proportions are off, neck too long, ears too wide, and the stuffing of his leg needed to be firmer so he could stand up taller. But all in all, he is a pretty cute pup, if I say so myself. He makes you smile.

side and front view of “Hot Wheels” the dog

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by princesshotflash

Dad’s Art

Dad has been enjoying drawing and collaging in these recent years. It’s not an everyday thing. When he’s in the art mode, he’ll whip out his sharpies or start cutting up cardboard.

His materials of choice are old newspaper, discarded cardboard boxes, and his trusty sharpie pens. He uses the newspaper as his canvas with the sharpies. And the cardboard is the structure of his piece. These pieces are ones that he wants to stand on their own.

The key to Dad’s art is upcycling. He has always been a frugal man and has made many things from scraps around the house. He’s our MacGyver. But these days, building things is hard for him, and his drawing and pasting has taken its place.

He’s medium of choice is sharpies and old newspaper. I’ve bought for him sketchbooks, paints, and watercolor pencils to no avail getting him to use them. He would always fall back to his sharpies

Sourcing Materials

Dad does think about sourcing his material. One day, he asked me if I ate a fig bar. He said, “I want the wrapper because of the foil inside of the wrapper.” I asked him why he needed it? “I’m going to use it for the eyes on my turkey and snowman to make it stand out.”

He sourced the Depends box for the Christmas tree because of its green color. One day, I walked past him, sawing away with a serrated knife at the box, cutting the tree’s triangle shape. I just had to smile, he still has that making thing at 92.

I’d thought I would give my dad art a show case so I gave him a tag on Instagram and Facebook if you like to continue to search for new work. #jo1drawing. I made his tag from his first name, Joichi. “Ichi” means one in Japanese. 

Have a Happy Holidays. Eat well and stay safe.